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Rule breaking in social care: hierarchy, contentiousness and informal rules

Author

Listed:
  • Dermot Breslin

    (Sheffield University Management School, UK)

  • Geoffrey Wood

    (University of Essex, UK)

Abstract

Taking a longitudinal case study approach, this article examines the process of rule breaking in a newly formed UK domiciliary care provider. In this study, the founder acted in such a manner so as to partially decouple the organization from externally imposed institutional rules and regulations, allowing the emergence of informal rules between carer and client. These informal rules increasingly guided the behaviours of care workers over time, resulting in the breach of formal strictures. Building on the dimensions of hierarchy and contentiousness, rule breaking is conceptualized here as a phenomenon which occurs as a result of the tension between competing formal and informal rules, at multiple levels throughout the organizational hierarchy.

Suggested Citation

  • Dermot Breslin & Geoffrey Wood, 2016. "Rule breaking in social care: hierarchy, contentiousness and informal rules," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 30(5), pages 750-765, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:30:y:2016:i:5:p:750-765
    DOI: 10.1177/0950017015595956
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    References listed on IDEAS

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